Is a description of facial hair enough to be arrested?

Q: Can a minor get convicted far assault and robbery because someone was robbed and gave police a description of just facial hair

A:There had to be something more than “facial hair”. The police report just cannot read, the actor is described as, “facial hair”. If what you mean is a weak description, yes, it is possible to be arrested, but those kind of cases are often beaten at trial. If the police were on the fence about arresting him, the fact that he has priors may give them reason to do so. This is not fair but it happens. I would have a lawyer review the case.

Can a father defend against his older adult son’s threat of filing for adverse possession?

Q: The father let his son move back home in 1989 but the son was disturbed and abusive so the father started staying with someone else over 21 years ago. The father has clear title and has paid for all utilities and maintenance and kept getting his mail at the house. His son was welcomed as a guest until 2014 when it was discovered that he had filled the house with a hoard. The father wanted to use his house because it was very close to the hospital where he was getting treatments. In 2014 the father gave the son over a year to correct the code violations or move out in 2015. Now the son is claiming the house should be his and changed the locks.

A: The son can claim anything he wants but my guess is he won’t find a lawyer to challenge father’s title to the house. There is old common law that if a person uses another person’s real estate, as his own, notoriously, to the exclusion of the other person, he can claim it by the doctrine of adverse possession. It is a novel procedure and I have never seen it enforced. If the father has paid all utilities and maintenance for all of these years, the son has hardly used the property to the exclusion of the father. I think the father can evict the son. The father may want to consult with a real estate attorney and give son proper notice to vacate.

Can we use video to monitor caretakers for our mother?

Q: My mother has dementia and we have hired bonded, trained, insured caregivers to provide support for her daily needs. We suspect that theft and possible abuse may be occurring. As a deterrent, we would like to install a “very plainly visible” home “video-only” surveillance system. What are the legal requirements of doing so with non-family members regularly in the home?

A: My thoughts are that if they are aware they are being recorded by video, it is not a crime. Have a lawyer draft a release as part of their employment contract. It would basically state that they acknowledge and understand that they are subject to video surveillance and they release you from all civil and criminal liability related to such surveillance.

Can my dad prosecute me for mom making gifts to me?

Q: My dad’s accusing me of elder abuse for taking my mom to the bank getting out her money to go to the casino or do whatever she wants. I take her to bank to get the money she wants to go to lunch or casino and she’s helped me with my school loan as she did with my nephew by putting a $2,500.00 fence around his pool. She’s given me $2,400.00 towards my school payments. My dad says he’s putting me in prison if I don’t pay him $5,000.00 can he do this? She told him he’s out of line. (Latrobe, PA)

A: Your father can threaten to file criminal charges, but it doesn’t sound like a criminal case. I would need more information to determine if the police or the DA would file charges. On one hand, if your mother is competent to make these gifts, and she is under no undue influence or coercion to do so by you or anyone else, then her decision to make gifts is hers. On the other hand, if she is not competent or acting without clear capacity, and she is seriously depleting funds that your father and mother may need for their golden years, he has a legitimate concern. There are criminal statutes that protect the elderly or mentally infirm from being taken advantage of. Whether they apply to your situation I cannot say for sure without more information. Just based on what I hear, I am doubtful criminal charges may arise. However, if your father seeks legal advice, and an attorney believes your mother is not competent or being coerced to make these gifts, you could face criminal charges or a civil suit of some type including a restraining order or domestic abuse order.

Is this my first or second DUI?

Q: I was convicted of DUI on 2/05/2006 and sentenced for another on 5/05/2016. Would this be considered my first DUI in ten or my second? I was charged with DUI general imp/incapable of driving safely.

A: The 10-year period commenced on the date of your last conviction and ended on the date of your most recent arrest. If your most recent arrest is beyond that period, your DUI is a first for the purposes of sentencing. If you were arrested prior to February 5, 2016, on your new DUI case, this will be a second DUI offense and you will not be eligible for the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program.

Can I rescind a car sale contract that I have not yet taken possession of?

Q: The car is still with the dealer for detailing. I purchased a car 1 day ago. The dealer did not give me the sales contract to take home with me to go over completely because the car is being detailed. I was told I could get the paperwork in 4 days when I come back to pick up the car. I do not want the car now. This entire transaction seems very suspect to me. It is still at the dealership. Since I have not taken possession of the car yet, can I rescind the contract? (Hermine, PA)

A:  It has only been a day or so, you haven’t taken possession, and it appears title has not changed. Just be firm with them and tell them you do not want the vehicle. I would draft a dated letter to them telling them so and keep a copy. Serve it on them via hand delivery or mail, and keep a copy. You did not say if you paid anything. If so, they should return your deposit.

How can I get paid out of my dad’s trust for caregiver services?

Q:  I am the caregiver and family trust trustee. I am the caregiver of my dad. He keeps wanting to give me money. I want him to hold on to all that he has, in order to help get him through his life so when I get paid it will be after my dad is gone. My question is, if everything ‘pours over’ to the trust and I am the successor trustee, am I in conflict of interest or doing something illegal if I will the trust after my dad is gone to get paid for the care giving?

A: It depends on how the trust is structured. Typically, a trustee does not get to choose trust beneficiaries or pay herself funds for caregiving. Discuss this with an elder law attorney who can review all the documents because no one can answer this competently without much more information.

Can my dad prosecute me for mom making gifts to me?

Q: My dad’s accusing me of elder abuse for taking my mom to the bank getting out her money to go to the casino or do whatever she wants. I take her to bank to get the money she wants to go to lunch or casino and she’s helped me with my school loan as she did with my nephew by putting a $2,500.00 fence around his pool. She’s given me $2,400.00 towards my school payments. My dad says he’s putting me in prison if I don’t pay him $5,000.00 can he do this? She told him he’s out of line.

A: Your father can threaten to file criminal charges, but I would need more information to determine if the police or the DA actually file them. On one hand, if your mother is competent to make these gifts, and she is under no undue influence or coercion to do so by you or anyone else, then her decision to make gifts is hers. On the other hand, if she is not competent or acting with clear capacity, and she is seriously depleting funds that your father and mother may need for their golden years, he has a legitimate concern. There are criminal statutes that protect the elderly or mentally infirm from being taken advantage of. Whether they apply to your situation I cannot say for sure without more information. Just based on what I hear, I am doubtful criminal charges may arise. However, if your father seeks legal advice, and an attorney believes your mother is not competent or being coerced to make these gifts, you could face criminal charges or a civil suit.

What are the rules governing a police officer questioning minors?

Q: Recently, a police officer was in my neighborhood investigating an incident. I was next door speaking to a neighbor, and my 6 year-old let the officer into my home. I came home approximately 7 minutes later and he was questioning my 6 and 9 yr old children about a poaching incident in our neighborhood. Obviously, they could not have committed the crime at such young ages. When I returned and asked him why he was questioning my children without my presence, he informed me that he was just seeking answers. Later that day, Children services came to my home because the officer had filed child endangerment charges. I was less than 100 feet away, my 9 yr old has a cell phone with which to call me, and child services dismissed his concerns about the children.

A: I would need more information. The way you describe it, or suspect, is that the police gathered evidence illegally about you and called CYF to make it appear that there questioning of the children had a legal basis. It doesn’t sound like a strong case of Endangering Welfare of Children, but the standard to arrest you is not demanding. If arrested for EWOC, you may have a good defense, based on your information. If you are arrested for something else, like poaching, which was based on the evidence the police obtained from your children, your attorney may have grounds to suppress the evidence as illegally obtained, but that is always an uphill battle.

How to overrule a 302 Mental Health Commitment on misdiagnosis

Q: My friend has been placed though a 302 filing on an ” involuntary inpatient medical treatment” He got into a physical confrontation with no physical harm done to the other party or himself (both male). He was arrested and taken to the hospital for an emergency evaluation, because the other party made accusations that my friend had a mental problem. At the emergency evaluation the psychiatrist wrongfully diagnosed him as” Bi-polar”. This diagnosis was contradicted by a 2nd opinion and evaluation a few months ago with” Post Dramatic Stress Disorder”. To make matter worse, my friend is still been injected with medication for Bi-polar with heavy side effect, which he reported to his physician. He was forced to continue the injection treatment which alters his brain chemistry. What can be done?

A: No one can answer this without a lot more of the facts being known. The hospital and medical people will not talk to you unless you are next of kin, have a signed Release from him or are his Agent on a valid POA. All I can tell you is, and I am assuming he is still committed, is to ask his attorney or Public Defender what happened and why he is still being detained and medicated inconsistently with his diagnosis. If you get no answer or insufficient answers, you can only hire an attorney who can visit him, talk to his doctor, look at the record and if necessary seek relief from Orphan’s Court.